Slurry applicator for an agricultural machine

Abstract

A trough is cut in the ground surface by a rotating member. The rotating member displaces soil upward with respect to the ground surface and rearwardly with respect to a direction of travel of the rotating member. While the soil is in the air, slurry is deposited into the trough. The soil is then redirected downward to the trough to cover the slurry with the soil.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for depositing slurry into a ground surface, the method comprising:
 cutting a trough in the ground surface soil with a rotating member; 
 displacing a majority of the soil from the trough upwardly and airborne with respect to the ground surface; 
 depositing the slurry in the trough while the soil is in an upward and airborne position with respect to the ground surface; and 
 directing the soil downward into the trough after the slurry has been deposited therein to cover the slurry with the soil. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the rotating member is a coulter blade with a plurality of angled flutes to open the trough with minimal compression of a side of the trough to allow for maximum absorption of the slurry. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the angled flutes of the coulter blade exits the trough at an angle with respect to the ground surface to eject the soil from the trough upwardly. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , and further comprising applying a downward vertical force on an axis of rotation for the coulter blade to keep the coulter blade at a substantially consistent depth with respect to the ground surface. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , and further comprising controlling the depth of the trough with a spool positioned on the axis of rotation of the coulter blade to resist downward vertical pressure to keep the depth of the trough substantially consistent. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , and further comprising providing for upward movement of the coulter blade when the coulter blade engages an object in the ground. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , and further comprising providing substantially consistent coverage of the slurry that is in the trough while depositing of the slurry is conducted at a speed in a range of three to fifteen miles per hour with respect to the ground surface. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , depositing more than six thousand gallons of slurry per acre in the trough with substantially minimal runoff. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , and further comprising displacing the majority of the soil behind an axis of rotation of the rotating member. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , and further comprising displacing the soil outward from the trough and away from the slurry being deposited in the trough. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1 , depositing the slurry in the trough below a surface level of the ground. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the slurry comprises livestock waste. 
     
     
       13. A method for depositing slurry in a ground, the method comprising:
 cutting a trough in the ground with a rotating member; 
 displacing a majority of a soil from the trough upwardly and airborne with respect to the ground; 
 depositing a majority of the slurry in the trough while the soil is displaced from the trough; and 
 directing a majority of the soil into the trough after the majority of the slurry has been deposited in the trough to substantially cover the majority of the slurry with the soil. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , and further comprising displacing the soil outward from the trough and away from the slurry being deposited in the trough. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , and further comprising depositing the slurry in the trough below a surface level of the ground. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , and further comprising providing substantially consistent coverage of the slurry that is in the trough while the depositing of the slurry is conducted at a speed in a range of twelve to fifteen miles per hour. 
     
     
       17. A method for depositing livestock waste in a ground, the method comprising:
 cutting a trough in the ground with a rotating member 
 displacing a majority of a soil from the trough upwardly and airborne with respect to the ground and outward with respect to the trough; 
 depositing a majority of the livestock waste in the trough while the majority of the soil is displaced from the trough; and 
 directing a majority of the soil into the trough after the livestock waste has been deposited in the trough to substantially cover the livestock waste with the majority of the soil. 
 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17 , wherein the rotating member is a coulter blade with angled flutes that exit the trough at an angle with respect to the ground to eject the soil from the trough upwardly, and further comprising applying a downward vertical force on an axis of rotation for the coulter blade to keep the coulter blade at a substantially consistent depth with respect to the ground, and further comprising controlling the depth of the trough with a spool positioned on the axis of rotation of the coulter blade to resist downward vertical pressure to keep the depth of the trough substantially consistent, and further comprising providing for upward movement of the coulter blade when the coulter blade engages an object in the ground. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 17 , and further comprising providing for upward and downward movement of a containment wheel positioned on each side of the trough, wherein the containment wheel on each side of the trough cooperate to direct the majority of the soil into the trough while simultaneously traveling generally on top of the ground without a positive force pushing the containment wheel in the ground, and further comprising leaving an appearance of a slightly raised surface after covering the livestock waste with the majority of the soil.